Return to Transcripts main page

The Situation Room

Trump Says Deal With Iran Could Come Soon, Iran Disputes Claim; Trump: "Favorite Thing" Would Be Taking Iran's Oil; TSA Workers Start Receiving Back Pay After Weeks Without Pay. Aired 11-11:30a ET

Aired March 30, 2026 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:00:27]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour with the breaking news. President Trump suggesting a deal to end the war with Iran could be close. Posting on social media just a short time ago, Trump said in part, and I'm quoting him now, if for any reason the deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately open for business, we will conclude our lovely stay in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their electric generating plants, oil wells in Kharg Island and possibly all desalinization plants, which we have purposefully not yet touched.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: And in an interview with "The Financial Times," President Trump went even further, saying, "To be honest with you, my favorite thing is to take the oil in Iran. But some stupid people back in the U.S. say, why are you doing that? But they're stupid people. Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don't. We have a lot of options. It would also mean we had to be there in Kharg Island for a while."

Iran's response is that the list of U.S. demands is, "Unrealistic." So with us now to further discuss is Ed Luce the U.S. national editor at The Financial Times who interviewed President Trump. All right, Ed, how big of a leap is it for the President to suggest taking Iran's oil?

EDWARD LUCE, U.S. NATIONAL EDITOR, FINANCIAL TIMES: It's a pretty big leap. I mean, clearly he's got the Venezuela scenario in his head where, you know, you remove the leader but then do business with the remaining regime, and that includes a lot of Venezuelan oil. Completely different situation in Iran would involve putting troops into Kharg Island where 90 percent of Iran's oil exports go.

But as you know, both you and Wolf know, Pamela, Trump has been talking for decades about taking Iran's oil. He was saying this in the 80's during the Iran-Iraq war. He talked about it in the Iraq war that Bush should take the Iraqi oil. This is a recurring theme throughout his life. BROWN: It absolutely is.

BLITZER: If the U.S. were somehow, Ed, to take control of Iran's oil supply, what do you expect the reaction would be from around the world?

LUCE: I think that this would be seen as a really dramatic, very, very risky escalation. And I think we can probably surmise that the Pentagon have been laying out the risks involved in such an operation. The impact on the global oil markets, I would expect in the short term, however that operation proceeded would be to drive prices up further because this would be about taking Iran's right now free flowing oil off the markets. Right now Iran is selling a lot of oil.

BROWN: Right. And just given all of your expertise and knowledge about the economy, about oil and the dynamic at play here, I'm wondering if how you're looking at this in the long term and on the global stage because you already have crude oil crossing $116 a barrel. There's concern that it could go up even further to a couple hundred dollars a barrel and then that could cause gas prices to shoot up to $7 a gallon. How are you looking at this, Ed?

LUCE: Well, there are a couple of things, Pamela. The first is that other countries in Europe and in East Asia, America's allies, are hit more directly by this than the United States because the United States is a surplus oil producing country. So I think President Trump feels relatively secure compared to economies like Britain or South Korea or Australia which are more exposed.

[11:05:00]

And the fact that Europe gets its gas from Qatar that's now not available, it's liquefied natural gas that is, is something, again, America doesn't suffer from. But the other point, and this is I think more serious, is that Iran is exporting oil to preferred countries, mostly China, and it is taking payments in the Chinese currency or in Stablecoin and setting up a complete sort of alternative payment system with which China that's beyond the U.S. dollar, with which China is really cooperating.

So this isn't just about Iran and oil. This is about a sort of embryonic alternative payment system that is beyond the reach of the Treasury. That's quite serious.

BROWN: I think that's a really important point. Help our viewers better understand why, given the fact that the U.S. is such a big energy producer, we why we're not fully insulated if we have this surplus?

LUCE: So you're paying the global spot prices just like everybody else is for Brent crude oil, which is currently, I think, approaching $120 a barrel somewhere thereabouts. That's the same for the American consumer as anybody else. But in fact, it's a lot cheaper for the American consumer than your average European one, for example, because there are really quite high taxes on gas at the pump in most other Western economies, way higher than the American level. So that's the sort of principal reason. But of course, American oil producers are having a field day because they're getting these prices, same as everybody else. These higher prices they're benefiting from.

BLITZER: Ed Luce, as usual, thank you very, very much.

BROWN: Thank you so much, Ed. Good to have you on.

All right, so let's continue this conversation now with retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Peter Zwack. He's also Global Fellow at the Kenan Institute. We just heard President Trump's suggestion that the U.S. could take Iran's oil. I talked about that with Ed. Do you think that could be achieved militarily with the resources the U.S. has in place right now?

BRIGADIER GENERAL PETER ZWACK, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Thank you for bringing me on. No, not now. Meaning there isn't enough in the region to get on the ground in Kharg Island and hold it and then sustain it. Kharg Island is deep in the Persian Gulf, actually relatively far from Hormuz. And anything that comes through into the Persian Gulf has to passage the Straits and then get up to Kharg Island. And that will take a lot of effort, a lot of ships, air power.

And then you'll need troops on the ground. Yes, and there are Marines, the 31st MEUs in the area. And the 82nd Airborne is being discussed. This is actually far more complicated than it sounds because we are -- while we are overwhelming, we will be playing very deep on Iran's home court, meaning we will be in the range of their drones. We will be in well in range of their ballistic missiles. And it's an island. And so it's a lot harder than the bluster would make it sound.

BROWN: So given the objectives the administration has laid out, and I know on some areas, particularly with Kharg Island, they're not coming out and saying one way or another exactly what they're going to do, but what is the likelihood that there will be boots on the ground?

ZWACK: Well, Pamela that's a -- I think that's the big question. I think that the longer that -- and there's a side, remember, the other side has a vote. And I have a sense that the Iranians feel that they have the President, our President, a bid on, on a pressure cooker, because the longer they hold out, the more impatient, the more worried, the more angry of our friends and allies and competitors are out there. There's a lot going on in the world that's playing at the same time.

And Iranians kind of sustain it, hold it. Remember, they fought off the Iraqis for almost eight years in the 1980s, hundreds of thousands dead. So they're tougher cats than we would say in a straight fight. We would absolutely immolate them, but it's not -- this is complex.

BROWN: So on that note, you have the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, saying that there has been a divide in the leadership, and you have the President saying that the leadership right now in Iran is more cooperative. But does that square with you, given what we know about the ideology from the leadership and how they're trained to be in these roles? [11:10:12]

ZWACK: I don't buy it. I don't fully buy it. There may be discussions going on, but the gamesmanship and discussing the discussions I don't think is helpful. You raise expectations, you lower them. The only ones benefit are the long and short traders on the stock market. And I think that the whole world is anxious. Our allies, our friends don't like this. I mean, it's not just gratification for the United States. It's for a lot of other people that are dependent, and I emphasize dependent on a smooth flow of Iraqi oil.

However, the Iraqis, excuse me, forgive me, the Iranians, you know, the nuclear program needs to go out and that is a huge piece that is still not answered. But this thing is a whole lot more -- whole lot harder than one would sound by the bluster.

BROWN: But what about what you heard from the secretary of state that look, the U.S. has taken out the Navy and the Air Force and the air defenses in Iran? I mean, do you see that as progress to justify this war so far?

ZWACK: Pam, it is absolutely. I mean, we have in theory overwhelming force, but this is a complicated region and we can't extend all that force deep into the Persian Gulf. Yes, we have our bases on the other side of the Persian Gulf and we have our carriers, but we have to get there. To put troops in the ground, we have land them on Kharg Island. I think that's what we're talking about. And again, the Iranians know that as long as they've got a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, then we're going to have to do some gyrations to if you will, chisel them out of there, which we can do, but it will be at considerable cost, I believe. Again, they're playing the home court. We have overwhelming power, but they can bring a lot of fires to bear in the interim.

BROWN: All right. General Peter Zwack, thank you so much. Wolf?

ZWACK: Thank you so much.

BLITZER: And still ahead, long lines at some major airports begin to ease as TSA workers receive some of their back pay. We're live at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

And later, a stunning comeback to reach the Final Four, the game winning shot that clinched it for the Yukon Huskies. Stay with us. You're in The Situation Room.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:17:24]

BLITZER: For air travelers around the country, it's feeling like a breakthrough. Shorter lines are being reported at airports all across the country this morning as TSA workers receive their first pay in some five weeks. And that includes most of their back pay. But big issues are unresolved, 500 agents have quit since last month and Congress has been deadlocked over long term funding. BROWN: CNN's Ed Lavandera is at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Ed, last week you had lines stretching for hours. Much better picture there today.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that sound you might hear behind me are angels singing. Lines are now less than 10 minutes long here at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. So a dramatic difference. We've reached out to airport officials to get a better understanding of exactly what is happening, to make all of this happen and move more swiftly. We haven't heard back from airport officials.

But look, this is a scene that just last week was, this is the lobby of Terminal E here filled with people, lines spilling out into the parking lot. Those lines have been taken down. Now, not everything is fully back to normal. The TSA lines are still being funneled through just two terminals, two of the checkpoints, two of the nine checkpoints that are usually open in this airport. So not everything is back to normal. And TSA lines or the TSA pre lines aren't open. Clear isn't working either.

But this is just so dramatically different. You can see, I mean, last week we couldn't even see the checkpoint areas where I.D.s are checked. And you can see here George Bush moving much more swiftly. Less than 10 minutes. And this is just so dramatically different. And a sigh of relief you hear from all the passengers walking past us.

BROWN: Yes, huge improvement. Ed Lavandera, thanks so much. Wolf?

[11:19:10]

BLITZER: Up next, why some doctors are now rethinking the use of a very popular heart medication. Information you need to know.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: New this morning, the first photo we've seen of one of the flight attendants on that Air Canada plane that crashed into a fire truck while landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport. Her family says Solange Tremblay was sitting just behind the cockpit. Her jump seat was ejected onto the tarmac and skidded more than 300 feet, causing severe damage to her legs and fracturing her spine. The crash killed the two pilots and injured dozens of passengers. A GoFundMe page set up by the flight attendant's family has raised more than $185,000.

BROWN: Wow. Well, some important health news for you. After someone has a heart attack, medications known as beta blockers are commonly prescribed. These drugs can lower blood pressure, slow down the heart rate, and are used to help prevent yet another heart attack. But some doctors are now rethinking this. CNN health reporter Jacqueline Howard has more on this. So, Jacqueline, why is this not being questioned?

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: What's happening is that there is a growing body of research now that suggests beta blockers in the long term may offer little to no benefit for people who are in stable condition after a heart attack. And keep in mind, these medications are sometimes prescribed for life for these patients. And so there are now questions about whether that's necessary or for how long these medications should be taken over a long term.

[11:25:11]

And a new study now suggests that if a person is in stable condition and they're not showing signs of being at an increased risk for another heart attack, then it could be safe for them to stop taking beta blockers. This study looked at more than 2,000 adults in South Korea who were in stable condition after a heart attack. They were taking beta blockers for at least a year. About half of them stopped the medications for the study. The other half continued the medications.

After about three years went by, the researchers found that those who stopped the beta blockers, they were not at a higher risk for either another heart attack, hospitalization for heart failure or death. The data showed that about 7 percent of those who stopped the medications experienced another heart attack, hospitalization for heart failure or death, compared with about 9 percent in the group that continued the medications.

And for any medication, whether it's beta blockers or something else, we tend to see people will stop due to two reasons. One, the side effects, or two, the costs. Now, with beta blockers in particular, they are generally safe. In some cases, side effects may include fatigue, dizziness, or in rare cases, sexual dysfunction. We also know beta blockers are usually affordable. In many cases, they may cost no more than $20 a month.

But again, if this is continuing for a lifetime, that amount could add up. So this is an area in medicine where doctors are now exploring what is safe to do, what may beneficial for the patient in terms of costs and what guidance can be provided to help patients make a decision that's best for them.

BROWN: All right, Jacqueline Howard, thank you so much.

And I want to turn now to another important story in the health space. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. The Colorectal Cancer Alliance says the disease is the deadliest cancer in people younger than 50 and the second deadliest cancer overall. But there is some good news. There are more ways to catch it early. That's why celebrities like award winning actor, Patrick Dempsey, are using their voices to raise awareness about the disease and ensure more people get screened. I spoke to him earlier this month about the work he's doing with the Dempsey Center on cancer treatment and therapies and his personal connection to the cause.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK DEMPSEY, ACTOR: I really encourage people to go out there and get their screenings done now. It's very important. If caught early, the survival rate is that much greater. So what we've been working with Shield, partnership with them. And it's a blood test and it's very simple to get done. Medicare takes care of that. So your insurance.

And I think the big stumbling block is when you do a colonoscopy, which I have done, the preparation is very hard. So this is an easy approach to doing it. And it's we just want to get people in there and aware that if we get it caught early enough, the survival rate is that much greater.

And we're starting to see younger and younger people developing cancers earlier. And a lot of this has to do with what we're doing, how we're living our lifestyle and not exercising. This is what inspired the Dempsey Center, which was -- because of my mother's impact. She passed away from ovarian cancer. She had over 12 reoccurrences. And I felt really helpless, you know.

And as a caregiver, my heart goes out to them because you're trying to stay so strong for the person who has been impacted by cancer, but there's nobody there to support you. I would say if someone who has a loved one, seek help. If you need help, please go to the DempseyCenter.org and we can help you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: That is so important. Our thanks to Patrick Dempsey for that advice and I'll have a link to the Dempsey Center on my Instagram at PamelaBrownCNN for those who want to learn more about it.

[11:29:13]

BLITZER: Good idea. Just ahead, some TSA workers start to receive their first pay in more than a month after so many of them had to rely on food banks for assistance. We'll discuss with the CEO of a Maryland food bank that's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)